Welcome to Ace Cafe London

Motorbikes, Cars and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Rev it Up!

At Ace Cafe London we welcome all who share our passion, based upon the rich traditions of motorcycles, cars and rock n’ roll. Established in 1938, today the Ace has become “the home” for petrolheads and is known as the world´s most famous motor cafe. From the iconic original cafe at Ace Corner in Northwest London, and following your enquiries, Ace premises are open in Beijing, Lahti and Lucerne, and now include with the all new Ace Cafe Barcelona and Ace Cafe Orlando venues, both having celebrated their Grand Opening in spring 2017.

All Ace venues, whilst catering locally for their crowds, share the true Ace Cafe spirit and, with privilege and pride, invite you all to be part of it. Though the way of expressing oneself, the music and the machines have changed over the last decades, the spirit and motivation remains the same, individual and authentic. So set the wheels in motion and take a journey with us through the unique Ace Cafe experience!

The Continental Run 2017

The idea was straight and simple – enjoying riding motorcycles with friends and partners – by combining the popular Glemseck 101 event in Leonberg, near Stuttgart, Germany with the legendary Ace Cafe Reunion Event in London and Brighton, UK.

Four ride days, a total of 1222km via scenic landscapes, mountain climbs, twisty roads through Germany, France, Luxemburg and Belgium into London.

Continental Run 2017 Clip

The Route:

1st day – from Glemseck through the Black Forest and Alsace to La Petite Pierre 2nd day – from La Petite Pierre through the Luxemburg Ardennes to Clervaux 3rd day – from Clervaux through Luxemburg and Belgian Ardennes to Cambrai 4th day – from Cambrai via Calais/Dover ferry to London

All partakers really enjoyed some really good company and being on the road for some “real life action”. The riders arrived safe and dandy at Ace Cafe premises at North Circular Road on Thursday, 7th Sept. eve. to be part of the annual Ace Cafe Reunion Event.

Ace Cafe London, teaming up with BMW Motorrad, is privileged to host and present the “R nine T Special”, an international campaign from April 2017 through to Spring 2018 hosted and held at five different Ace Cafe premises! 28/29 April 2017 – Ace Cafe Beijing 23/25 June 2017 – Ace Cafe London 28/30 September – Ace Cafe Barcelona Spring 2018 – Ace Cafe Orlando (Date TBC) 12/13 May 2018 – Ace Cafe Luzern

This trans-global international “R nineT Special” Ace tour features “Goldrausch”, a unique custom special built R nineT Racer, together with five more of the best of boxer machines, the R nineT, R nineT Pure, R nineT Urban G/S, R nineT Scrambler and the R nineT Racer! For updates and programme details, just check out the Websites and Social Media of BMW Motorrad and of the Ace:

Stay in the loop and subscribe to our Newsletter. We send out regular e-newsletters and by signing up you can stay up-to-date with the latest Ace News and Info on Events, Meets, Gigs, Ride Outs and much more!

Bell Helmets, one of the industry’s most iconic names, and a leader in innovative head protection, having teamed up with Ace Cafe London, this year debuts three new Limited Edition Bell helmets celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Ace having opened originally in 1938!

Building on the transatlantic partnership established in 2016, the all-new 2018 Limited Edition Bell Ace Cafe London 80th anniversary helmets are the Bell Custom 500, that pays homage to Bell founder Roy Richter’s original design, while adding modern protective technology to bring the design up-to-date, the Bell Moto-3, among the most iconic helmets in motorcycling’s history, and the Bell Race Star, that features the latest in Bell Helmets technology and innovation, and which, since its introduction back in 1967, has long represented the standard in head protection and is revered as the first full-face helmet on the market.

Ace Locations

Ace Times

by Mick Duckworth

The long awaited comprehensive book “Ace Times” – speed thrills and tea spills, a cafe and a culture” relates and illustrates the definitive history of London’s Ace Cafe, a roadside pull-in that open in 1938 and became the most famous haunt of the motorcycle riding “Ton-up kids” in the 50’s and the Rockers in the 60’s. This book also tells story of the other venues and cafes, like the 59 Club, the Busy Bee and others elsewhere around the country. A substantial high quality, fully bound, 312 page hardback volume packed with personal recollections and evocative photographs, Ace Times also features the fastest motorcycles, the loudest music, the iconic movies and the distinctive clothing and styles of the cafe racing era. Burn ups, press hysteria, rock n roll riots, police baiting, Mods and Rockers, pirate radio and loads more besides, all unambiguously revealed.

Available at these Webshops

Webshop UK Webshop USA Webshop Germany

Webshop Japan Webshop Switzerland Webshop Finland

More InfoLess Info

The Ace Story

Since 1938

It was in England. It was in London. It was in 1938. A road side cafe was built to cater for those using the then new arterial carriage way – the North Circular Road – the A406. It was just before the war. It was a place no one at the time would have thought would go on to become the world´s most famous Motor Cafe. This building was called The Ace Cafe. And the story began…. The doors having opened the Ace Cafe became a meeting point for motorists who not only liked to pull over for a cuppa or a Full British Breakfast, but also to enjoy the company of like-minded people.

Heavily damaged in an air raid by the Luftwaffe in 1940, it was subsequently rebuilt in 1948. With the advent of Rock ‘n Roll, the Ace Cafe attracted youngsters on their motorcycles. The Cafe Racer was born, the record races, and with them came the Ton Up boys and girls, and the Rockers. It´s a story about Speed, it´s a story about boy meets girl, it´s a timeless story with worldwide appeal and which to this day continues, carrying the spirit into the future. It´s our story. It´s your story. It´s the Ace Cafe story. Keep revving it up!